IllustrationWHEN I RUN MY AC IT LEAKS ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT LEAKS SO MUCH IT RUNS TO THE BACK SEAT FLOORBOARD TOO. *TR
2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Eclipse years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
280–25K
2025–50K
950–75K
475–100K
9100–150K
5150K+
75 reports with mileage · 49 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
Equipment complaints
4 reportsI DO HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND AT 27,000 I HAD A CLUTCH REPLACED AND A PRICE TAG OF $1,250.00 FOR THE DEALERSHIP THE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM I THOUGHT I WOULD GET A LONG TIME OUT OF THAT REPAIR THAT COST SO MUCH. I WAS ONLY UP SET THAT THE SAME PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN SO CALLED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED INDEPENDENT SH…
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I DO HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND AT 27,000 I HAD A CLUTCH REPLACED AND A PRICE TAG OF $1,250.00 FOR THE DEALERSHIP THE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM I THOUGHT I WOULD GET A LONG TIME OUT OF THAT REPAIR THAT COST SO MUCH. I WAS ONLY UP SET THAT THE SAME PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN SO CALLED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED INDEPENDENT SHOP THE DIAGNOSTIC THE COMPLETE PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP STATED WAS NOT WRONG, I WAS TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE THAT THE LEAKING WAS CAUSED BY THE SLED AND THAT I NEEDED THE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLE A NEW CLUTCH AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE PROBLEM. I FIND THAT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED AND THE MANUFACTURE FAILED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP WANTED $1,6759.95 FOR THE REPAIR OF A CLUTCH NOT ADDRESSING THE LEAK PROBLEMS. *TR
AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT PIPE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS ALMOST SITTING ON TOP OF THE RADIATOR BRACKET AND MOVES ONTO THE BRACKET WITH NORMAL VIBRATIONS OF THE CAR. THE AIR HAS BEEN SLOWLY GETTING WARMER UNTIL IT FINALLY QUIT ALTOGETHER; I WAS TOLD THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE MOVED THE PIPE OVER AND CAUSED IT TO BE ON THE BRA…
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AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT PIPE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS ALMOST SITTING ON TOP OF THE RADIATOR BRACKET AND MOVES ONTO THE BRACKET WITH NORMAL VIBRATIONS OF THE CAR. THE AIR HAS BEEN SLOWLY GETTING WARMER UNTIL IT FINALLY QUIT ALTOGETHER; I WAS TOLD THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE MOVED THE PIPE OVER AND CAUSED IT TO BE ON THE BRACKET. *JB
DT: IT IS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, CAUSING THE CAR TO QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.*AK
Official recalls
315V338000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 2, 2015
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.
04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 1, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
03V442000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 4, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.